Box making machine



July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl. ETAL 3,096,692

BOX MAKING MACHINE Si jiv July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN lu, ETAL 3,096,692

BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l, 1961 16 SheetsfSheet 2 ZBF N i; N m N P' w oo V Q0 u) mvENToRs H q cHARLss an. cRATHERN n1 Ol" D .norm s. BRADlclcH ww q Joel. s. REEN Wg/M.

ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl, ErAL 3,096,692

Box MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS CHARLES F. H.6RATHERN DI JOHN B. BRADIOlGH JOEL S. REEN ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl, ETAL 3,096,692

Box MAKING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 2l, 1961 @l mH-HIH.- l

INVENTORS CHARLES F. H. CRATHERN III JOHN B. BRADIGICH JOEL S. REEN BY W /gy/,LWWVZSJ ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl, ETAL 3,096,592

Box MAKING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March 21:. 1961 F' I E El m N OR TE NH ET VA NR IC w E S E L R A H C JOHN B. BRADIGIGH JOEL S. REEN BY )QA/Vw l. l E

ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. lH. cRATHl-:RN nl, ETAL 3,096,692

Box MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 L 194,1 @l D 201-J 9' Y: I I I I 2oo`.

193 il l i I I \I'\ \I\ am 201g L LL LJ x ...il L n f- Si@ INVENTORS CHARLES F.H.CRATHERN In'. JOHN B. BRADIGIGH :E -JoEl. s.REEN n 1 Env/790,44@

ATTORNEY c. F. H. CRATHERN lu, ETAL 3,096,692

July 9', 1963 BOX MAKING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet '7 :Original Filed March 21, 1961 INVENTORS CHARLES F. H. CRATHERN m JOHN B. BRADIGIGH JOEL S. REEN ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. H. cRATHr-:RN nl, ETAL 3,096,692

' Box MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 I; I E 1 E 2310. C? 244 INVENTORS CHARLES F. H. CRATHERNIUI JOHN B. BRADIGICH JOEL S. REEN ATTORNEY July- 9, 1963 .F. H. CRATHERN m, ErAL BOX MAKING MACHINE @riginal Filed March 21, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl, ErAL 3,096,692

Box MAmNG MACHINE Qriginal Filed March 21, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 266 287 :65a F'IE 11A 287 INVENTQRS j CHARLES F. H. cRATl-IERN m 273 Jol-IN a. aRAolclcH 268 JoEL s. REEN ATTORNEY -July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN lll, lrrAl.A 3,096,692

BOX MAKING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed March 21, 1,961

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INVENTORS OX @N CHARLES F. H. GRATHERN III JOHN B. BRADICIGH JOEL S. REEN July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN m, r-:rAL 3,096,692

` BOX MAKING MACHINE Original kFiled March 21. 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 f' 246er.

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'71CL IN NroRs 1,75 cHARLEs E H. cmxlsnn n1 1751 JOHN 9.6RAolclcH JOEL S. REEN |720. 17in. a. ATTQRNEY July 9, 1963 c. F. H. CRATHERN nl, E'rAL 3,096,692

BOX MAKING MACHINE :L6k Sheets-Sheet 13 Original Filed March 21. 1961 INVENTORS CHARLES F. H. CRATHERN III JOHN B. BRADIGIGH JOEL S. REEN Bv /QLMM t @WWA-4 ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 C. F. H. CRATHERN lll, ETAL BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l, 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 F'Ili 1E FIL-5 l'7 INVENTQRS 2.19acHARLEs F. H.cRAT-|ERN m JOHN B. BRAolclcH JOEL s. REEN ATTORNEY July 9, 41963 C. F. H. CRATHERN lll, ETAL BOX MAKING MACHINE Original Filed March 2l. 1961 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTORS CHARLES F. H. GRATHERN III JOHN B BRADIGIGH JOEL S. REEN BVMW ATTORNEY July 9, 1963 C. F. H. CRATHERN lll, ETAL BOX MAKING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 Original Filed March 2l, 1961 lNvENToRS CHARLES F. H. CRATHERN III JOHN B.BRADIGIOH JOEL S. REEN BY/@uun L?.

ATTORNEY Pm ...wm-u lOJOm mmImDa ummm mnmlm-HIHF! United States Patent O 3,%,692 BOX MAKING MACHINE Charles F. H. Crathern III, Hoplrinton, John B. radicich, Warner, and .Ioel S. Rech, Contoocook, NH., assignors to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 97,374, Mar. 2l,

1961. This application Mar. I6, 1962, Ser. No. 182,156 35 Claims. (Cl. 93-49) This invention relates to the art of carton or box making and more particularly to the folding up of box or carton components from previously cut blanks. Apparatus of the invention will be described wherein a box lid is folded up and the corners 4thereof sealed together from a pre-cut blank made of transparent thermoplastic material.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 97,374, filed March 21, 1961, now abandoned.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for making rigid, rectangular, set-up type boxes or box lids having a top or bottom panel and side walls or ilaps rmly and precisely united at the corners. One of the features of the present invention is that such lids or box sections can be made of thermoplastic or heat scalable material, and such lids will be precisely and accurately made despite the fact that material of this type is somewhat elastic and distortable, and that its finish is readily marred and its appearance can be spoiled by improper handling during manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which is automatic once it has been supplied with a series of blanks. In the size ranges normally employed in this art, the machine of the present invention is easily capable of producing box parts such as lids at a production rate of 1800 parts per hour.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine that provides in a simple manner adjustment for box length, box width, and box depth. It is a feature ofthe present invention that such adjustments can be performed quickly and easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box making machine of the character described which does not require forms, which forms must be changed for every size of box or lid manufactured by the machine. In the machine of the present invention only two simple strip dies need be changed to accommodate change in one dimension. Change in the other dimension requires no die changes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a readily adjustable box forming machine of the type described which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which requires a minimum of floor space. A further object is to provide a construction that places a large majority of the moving parts in a relatively accessible easily reached position so that they can be readily adjusted, maintained and their operation checked from time to time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box making machine that makes boxes or box lids from precut and corner notched blanks, but which does not require scoring of the blanks.

`A further object is to provide a machine of the type described suitable for producing full 90 folds of the sides or aps and which will precisely maintain the folds during the sealing of the ilaps together by means of corner tabs.

Another object is to facilitate transfer of partially folded blanks from a first to a second folding station Without permitting the folded down flaps to catch or hang up during transfer.

Still another object is to provide a high production rate machine of the type described that requires but a single operator, who need only perform a very simple feeding 3,096,692 Patented July 9, 1953 "ice operation to supply the machine with blanks one by one.

The manner in which these and other objects and advantages of the invention can be attained will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a simplified perspective diagram showing the sequence of operations performed by the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan of the apparatus with the ejector mechanism removed for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing the basic arrangement of the main frame and table parts and the drive train.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the feed mechanism and the inboard and outboard tuck plates. In this figure as in other figures, parts not directly contributing to the operational step being illustrated in the iigure have been removed or only parts thereof are shown for clarity.

FIG. 4A is a detail of the outboard pusher linger of the feed mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on lines 5 5 of FIG. 2 showing mechanism for raising and lowering the feed or blank pusher mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on lines 6 6 of FIG. 2 showing mechanism for raising and lowering one of the longitudinally extending upper folding dies disposed at the rst folding station.

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken on lines 7-7 of FIG. 2 showing mechanism for raising and lowering the inboard laterally extending upper folding die at the second folding station.

FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken on lines 8-8 of FIG. 2 showing mechanism for operating one of the inboard tuck plates.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on lines 9-9 of FIG. 2 showing an inboard sealing head, chill, and operating mechanism therefor.

FIG. 9A is a transverse section taken on lines 9A-9A of FIG. 2 showing drive mechanism for one outboard tuck plate.

FIG. l() is a perspective of one of the outboard sealing heads and chills and the operating mechanism therefor.

FIG. 10A is a Section taken on lines 10A-10A of FIG. l0 showing the relation of a sealing head and associated chill.

FIG. 10B is an exploded perspective showing mounting of a lateral die.

FIG. l1 is a transverse section of the entire apparatus taken on lines lll-11 of FIG. 2 showing elevator and ejector mechanism for the completed box lid.

FIG. 11A is a longitudinal section taken on lines 11A- 11A of FIG. l1 showing the mounting and other parts of the ejector mechanism. l

FIG. 11B is a fragmentary horizontal section of the ejector mechanism taken on lines 11B-11B of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a plan of the rearward end of the apparatus showing the ejector mechanism that has been removed from the plan of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a section taken on lines 13-13 of FIG. 2 showing the outboard die assembly, tuck plate, and blank stop mechanism.

FIG. 13A is a section taken on lines 13A-13A of FIG. 2 showin-g the outboard lateral die and blank guiding lingers associated therewith.

FIG. 14 is a transverse section taken on lines 14-14 o-f FIG. 2 showing the cam shifting assembly.

FIG. 14A is a longitudinal section taken on lines 14A- 14A of FIG. 14 showing a corner block mounting.

FIG. l5 is a fragmentary perspective showing one adthese lower dies D1 and. D2.

justable side guide mechanism for the blanks as they are first placed in the machine.

FIG. 16 is a plan of a corner blockassembly showing the sealing mechanism and the cam shifting construction. FIG. 17 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on lines 17-17 of FIG. 16 further showing the construction of a corner block assembly.

FIG. 18 is a plan like that of FIG. 17 with the outboard upper die mechanism in place.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section through the upper and lower dies `at the rst folding station closed on a blank. FlG. 20 is a section showing the corner of a beaded blank free of the first folding dies.

FIG. 21 is a section like FIG. 20 showing a modified set of dies that make unbeaded corners.

FIG. 22 is a section showing the corner of a beaded blank free of the first folding dies.

FIG. 23 is a timing diagram for the apparatus based upon degres of camshaft rotation.

ln the detailed description of the apparatus of the invention that follows, the sequence of operation and the frame and drive trainassembly will be discussed in general. There will follow a detailed explanation of the construction and operation of operating units of mechanism at the various stations, the plan of the detailed description being in general that of tracing one blank through the machine. There will then be presented a brief summary of the entire operation, following thek same plan, concluding with a recapitulation of the major adjustments for box size.

Sequence of Operations The schematic diagram of FIG. 1 has been highly simplied, and lexcept for the feed carriages, none of the moving parts of the apparatus have been illustrated in the figure. At the forward, or blank receiving end of the machine, there is a registration station Ain which previously notched and tabbed unfolded blanks L are placed one by one by the operator. The feed mechanism, indicated generally at F, advances the unfolded blank L along the pair of longitudinally extending lower folding dies D. As indicated in the figure, the blanks have a top panel 10, it being remembered that the production of a box lid from transparent plastic material is illustrated by way of example. The blank L also has longitudinally extending end sidewalls or aps 11, and laterally extending sidewalls or flaps 12. Although the illustrated blank orientation is not critical to the present invention, the machine Ias illustrated is set up to receive blanks in which the longest dimensions of the blank are the lateral dimensions so that as mentioned above the longitudinal flaps or panels 11 may be considered to be the end flaps of the completed box lid. Projecting laterally from the lateral flaps 12, are tabs 13 which form sealing tabs for the corners of the folded box lid.

Blanks fed from the registration station A are delivered to the rst folding station, indicated generally at B. A partially folded blank L1 is shown in position at this station, as it appears just after performance of the first folding operation by mechanism not illustrated in the diagram. As seen in FIG. 7, at the conclusion of the first Vfolding operation, the longitudinal flaps 11 and the tabs 13 of the blank have been folded down against the outside walls of the longitudinally extending lower die D.

The same blank feeding mechanism, indicated .generally at F, that advances the blank L from the registration station A, to the position of blank L1 at the first folding station D, advances the blank L1 from the first folding station to the position of a blank L2 at Va second folding station, indicated `generally at C. At the second folding station C are laterally extending lower dies D1 and -DZ which will be referred to as inboard and outboard laterally extending lower dies, respectively, and a similar designation will be applied to mechanism associated with At the second folding stat-ion C, the lateral flaps or sidewalls 12 are folded down by mechanism not shown in the diagram, which brings the tabs 13 against the end flaps 11. After this folding operation of the flaps 12 has been completed, sealing and chill means (not shown) press the tabs 13 against vertical anvils 14 at the inboard lateral die D1, and anvils 141A at the outboard lateral die D2. Heat is applied to heat seal the tabs 13 against the longitudinally extending aps or panels 11 of the box lid. The completed box lid L2 is lifted vertically by means not illustrated in the diagram, to a position illustrated in broken lines. Ejector mechanism (not sho-wn) then moves the completed box lid L2 laterally of the apparatus to a discharge station G, wherein a completed blank L3 is shown resting on support rails l15. As each -completed box lid is moved laterally of the machine by the ejector mechanism, the lid L2 just completed pushes the previously formed box lid L3 clear of the discharge station G and onto a suitable conveyor (not shown) which forms no part of the present invention.

The Frame and Drive Train Referring primarily to FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 3 being a simplified schematic perspective diagram, -the frame structure of the apparatus includes fa pair of laterally spaced horizontally extending bed plates 16, on which are mounted a front cross plate 17 and a rear cross plate 18 which may be of channel section. Partly .enclosing the apparatus -are a left sheet metal side plate 19I and a right sheet metal side plate 21, on which plates are mounted a front cross rod 22 and a rear cross rod 23. A rear cross member 24 also connects side plates 19 and 21. There is an intermediate support or jack plate 25 for the rear cross rod 2.3.

VAn important feature of the machine are two longitudinally extending channel members, to be referred to as tables T .and T1. Table T1 has been almost completely broken away` in FIG. 3. These tables mount a large share of the drive and other operating apparatus. The lateral spacing of the tables represen-ts one of the adjustments of the machine for box lid size, box lid or top panel length, in the example given. Mounted adjacent the rear of the machine Vare corner blocks J and l1, with Yonly the corner block I appearing in the diagram of FIG. 3. These corner blocks are Vadjustable longitudinally of the machine, and their position on .the tables T and T1 determine another dimension of the box lid, the box lid or top panel width in the present example.

The corner blocks I and J1 are connected by a cross bar 25a for simultaneous movement along the tables T land T1. As seen in FIG. 2, there is -a corner block adtop panel length in the example.

The drive train, the basic elements of which appear in FIG. 3, lis `quite simple, and except for reciprocation of the blankfeeding mechanism, most of the operating parts (not shown in FIG. 3) are mounted on tables T and T1 where they are readily accessible. Referring to FIG. 3, the drive train includes 'a motor 26 mounted on cross plate 17, the motor driving a V-belt pulley 27, which drives a V-belt 28, that in turn drives an adjustable pulley 29. The pulley 29 is of the conventional type wherein the pulley faces can be relatively adjusted to provide for a limited speed adjustment. The pulley 29 drives into a gear box 31 which in turn drives a sprocket 312, around which is trained a chain 33, that drives a sprocket 34,

keyed toa countershaft 36 at .the rear of the machine.

laterally spaced upstanding plates 37, the plates being fixed to the rearward cross plate 1S. Keyed to countershaft 36 is a cam 3S, which causes longitudinal reciprocation of the feed mechanism. As seen in FIG. 4, the cam 38 operates a crank or -lever 39 mounted on a rockshaf-t 41, and the rockshaft oscillates a pair of feeder :operating levers 42 mounted on the ends of the rockshaft 41. The levers 39 and 42 have been broken away in FIG. 3, as has a spring return lever 43, `also iixed to rockshaft 41.

In addition to turning cam 38 for reciprocating the feed mechanism by means of rockshaft 4l and associated levers, the countershaft 36 drives the rest of the mechanism of the apparatus. A sprocket 46 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the countershaft 36, and drives a chain 47 trained around a sprocket 4S keyed to an upper counter shaft 49. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 11, the countershift 49 is centrally supported by a bearing block dit extending forwardly from cross member 24, and the shaft is held from lateral motion by a collar 56a on one side of block and the sprocket 48 on the other side. Countershaft 49 enters and drives a left-hand, right angle gear box 51, and a right-hand, right tangle gear box 52, these gear boxes being mounted on tables T and T1, respectively. In each gear box, bevel gears S3 are keyed to the countershaft 49 which bevel gears drive bevel gears 54 keyed to main camshafts K and K1 extending longitudinally along 4the tables T 'and T1, respectively. These camshafts are mounted in bearing blocks 55 fastened to the tables T and T1. The cams mounted on the camshafts, and associated mechanisms also mounted on the tables T and T1, have been omitted from FIG. 3 in order to clearly disclose the basic drive train.

In order to remove the completed box lid, ejector mechlanism is provided for raising and transporting completed blanks from a position at the second folding station C to the discharge station G, previously described in reference to FIG. l. The 4lateral transporting or ejectin-g mechanism is driven by a sprocket S6 slidably keyed on carnshaft K. Sprocket 56 drives a chain 57, which in turn drives a sprocket '58 mounted on a post S9l extending vertically upward from corner block I. The sprocket 5S drives a longitudinally extending shaft 66 which operates the ejector mechanism, as seen in FIG. l1 and in other gures, and to be described later. The shaft 61B has been broken away in FIG. 3 for clarity of illustration. Also shown broken away in FIG. 3, and attached to corner block I, is another upright 61 which, as will be seen, serves to further mount the ejector mechanism. Upright 61 is seen in full in FIG. lla.

This completes the general description of the operation yand basic construction of the apparatus. A detailed description and explanation of the operation of the apparatus at each of the stations previously mentioned will now be presented.

The Registration Station Elements of the registration station A are seen in FIGS. 2, 4-6, and l5. When the blai s L are initially placed in the machine at the registration station A, the blanks are partially supported by forwardly projecting extensions 66 ofthe lower dies D. These extensions are also indicated in FIG. 1. Brackets 67 extend laterally outwardly from the forward ends 66 of the lower dies D, to adjustably support blank side guides 68, extending `longitudinally of the apparatus. The side guides 68 support the longitudinally extending ilaps 11 of the blanks. The side guides 68 have lower blank supporting flanges 69 that slidably rest on the laterally extending brackets 67, as indicated in FIG. 5. The brackets 67 'are shown in broken lines in this gure because of the location of the section of the figure. The side `guides 68 are formed with blank guiding shoulders 71 which determine the lateral position of the blanks. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 15, the rearward portions of the side guides 68, disposed at the lirst folding station, are

provided with narrow flanges 72 which `serve to releasably support the flaps lil before they are bent down by the folding mechanism (yet -to be described) disposed at the rst folding station. Upward bowing of the flaps 11 of the blanks is prevented by upper flanges 73 formed on the side guides. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, and 15, and disposed between the registration station A and the first folding station B, is a blank deflector 74. This deector insures that blanks will be guided between the lower flange 72. and the upper ange 73 of each side guide 68.

The balance of the mounting structure for one of the side guides 68, which also provides for calibrated adjustment of the side guides for ap width, appears in FIG. 15. The construction at each of the tables T and T1, respectively, of the adjusting mechanism is the same. Post 76 extends upwardly lfrom mounting plate 77, which plate is bolted to plate 78 that mount spaced bearing blocks 79. As will be explained, blocks 79 mount the die mechanism at the first folding station. A11 arm 8l extends laterally inwardly from post 76, and serves as a track for a carriage `82 fastened by means (not shown) to the side guide 68. The carriage 82 and the associated side guide 68 is moved to a selected position by means of a grooved thumb wheel 83 rotatably mounted in the carriage. The wheel 8f3 is gnooved to frictionally engage a laterally extending scale 34 mpunted on the arm 81. A pointer 84a is `fixed to the carriage 82, and when the pointer is read against the scale, it indicates the distance of the side guide shoulders 71 from the associated longitudinally extending lower die `D, which distance represents the width of end flaps 11. The carriage 82 is locked in position on the arm 81 by a thumb screw 85.

As seen in FIGS. 2. and 6, there are two auxiliary and longitudinally extending blank support rails 86 mounted on posts 87, which posts are adjustably mounted on the forward cross rod 22. The pfosts 87 are indicated in phantom in FIG. 6. Rails 86 may not be needed in the assembly if the lateral dimension of the box lids being set up is small.

The Feed Mechanism As previously mentioned, the feed mechanism advances a blank L from the registration station A to the first folding station B, and simultaneously advances a partially folded blank L1 from the rst folding station B to the second folding station C. The feed mechanism has two motions, a reciprocating motion for advancing the blanks and for retracting to starting position, and a vertical motion for causing the feed mechanism to lower at the start of the retract stroke so as to not disturb the previously fed blanks, and to rise again at the starting position, ready to deed two blanks at a time.

The reciprocating mechanism of the feed mechanism F will tirst be described, primarily in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. Disposed against and just inside of each extension 66 of the lower longitudinal dies D, is a longitudinally extending feed bar 91, which bars will be referred to as carriages. Since the feed mechanism at each lower Idie D are the same, only the mechanism at one side of the apparatus will be described in detail.

As best seen in FIG. 4, depending from the carriage 91 is a carriage recipnocating arm 92 formed with a vertically extending slot 93. As seen in FIG. 5, a bushing 94 slides in the slot 93 and extending through the bushing is a transverse carriage pusher rod 96 having rollers 97 at each end thereof. The rollers ride in tracks 9S formed in longitudinally extending guide rails 99 fastened to the side panels 119 and 21, respectively. As is also seen in FIG. 5, in order to reciprocate rod 96 and carriages 91, a gusset plate 1011 is bolted to the transversely extending pusher rod 96 and to a generally longitudinally extending link 103. The link 103` is notched to receive transverse 4rod 96, the notch not appearing in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the notched link is connected to the of the trailing laterally extending flap 12, the horizontal position of the feed carriages 91 on the lower dies D can be precisely adjusted by mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4. An adjusting lever 104 is 4pivotally mounted on the arm 39 connected to rockshaft 41, by a pivot 106. Arm 39 is one of those shown'broken away `in the perspective diagram of FIG. 3. A cam roller 107 is mounted on the lower end of adjusting lever 104, which roller engages the cam 38 that operates feed mechanism, as was previously described in the explanation of the drive train relative to FIG.3. An adjusting screw 108 is threadedly mounted on an upper portion of arm 39' and the end of screw 108 engages the adjusting lever i104. VManipulation of the vadjusting screw 108 changes the position of cam follower roller 107 on the lever 104 relative to arm 39 that oscillates rockshaift 41, and hence determines the position of the carriages 91 relatively to the inboard lower folding dies D, a critical adjustment because it is important that the blank L2 (FIG. 1) be properly positioned relative to the inboard lateral die D1 by the feed mechanism. This adjustment will be referred to again, later in this description.

The feed cam 38 is shaped to provide a dwell period of the feed carriages 9=1V at both their retracted and advanced positions. -As will be seen, the retraction dwell facilitates insertion of a fresh blank by the operator, and the advance dwell facilitates gripping of the blank before retraction of the feed carriages.

In order towadvance blanks L :from the registration station A to the rst folding station B, each carriage 91 is formed with a'iblank pushing linger 109 at the forward or feed end of the carriage. Mounted on the rear or leading end of each carriage 91 is a pusher finger '110, best seen in FIG. 4a, which is mounted on a block 112 screwed to the rear end of carriage 91. Pushing lingers 110 advance blanks L1 from the first folding station B to the second folding station C, as previously described. The previously described adjustment o-f carriage position makes it possible to position fingers 110 relative to inboard lateral die D1 in accordance with the width (depth) of trailing lateral (side) flap 12', so that the fingers :110 stop short of inboard-die D21 by a distance equal tothe width of the trailing lateral flap 12.

As mentioned briey, means are provided to lower the carriages 91 and their associated pushing ngers 109 and 110 when the carriages have reached their forward or advanced part of vtheir stroke, and to raise them again when the carriages have returned to their initial position. Referring principally to FIGS. 4 and 5; and with further reference to FIG. 2, a longitudinal slot 116 is formed in each pusher carriage 91. Disposed along the inner face of each carriage is a longitudinally extending carriage supporting rail 117, having a tongue formed thereon, (FIG. 5) that lits in slot 116 in the associated carriage 91. The carriage reciprocating arm 92 extends down and over the inner side of rail 117, and the carriage and arm 117 reciprocate relative to rail 117, which rail can parcarriage 91,V lugs 123 are bolted to` the blocks'122 and these lugs are engaged by lifting pins 124 mounted on the end of laterally extending cranks 126. There are two cranks 126 on each table, a forward crank and a rearward crank. As seen in FIG. 5, the forward cranks have vpivots 127 that mount them to a Vblock 128 bolted to the tables. The forward cranks 126 each have a crank arm 129 supporting a cam follower roller 131, which is operated by a forward feed mechanism lifting cam 132, mounted on each of the icamshafts K and K1.

As seen in FIG. 15, the rearward cranks 126 are pivotally mounted between blocks 78 that mount the bearings 79, previously described in conjunction with the description of the side guide adjusting mechanism. Rearward crank arms 129 also mount rollers 131 that each engage rearward cams 132, not seen in FIG. 15, the rearward cams being identical with forward cams 132. As the camshafts K and K1 rotate, the cam rollers 131 on all Vfour crank arms 129 are depressed, causing the lifting pins 124 on the inner ends of the cranks 126 to lift blocks 123, rails 119, and hence the feeder carriages 91. This lifting mechanism does not interfere with reciprocation of the carriages 91, because of the tongue and slot connection between rails 117 and the carriages. It should be remembered when viewing FIG. 4 the carriage lifting mechanism is mounted on the far side of lower dies D1 and their extensions 66, and so does not appear in that gure. The carriages and associated members move to the lowered position under the force of gravity, after the feeding operation or forward reciprocation of the carriages has been completed.

Y advance from their blank receiving positions shown in FIGS. l and 4 toward the rear of the machine, pusher fingers 109 move a blank from the registration station A into position at the first folding station B. Here, as seen in FIG. 6, the blank L1 is supported on the longitudinally etxending lower folding dies D, the flanges 72 of the side guides 68, and in the case of wide blanks, center support rails 86. Mounted above the lower folding dies D are longitudinally extending upper folding dies U, mounted for motion toward and away from the lower folding dies. The longitudinal extent of the lower dies D and the upper folding dies U is at least as great as that of the widest box that will be formed in the apparatus, as the apparatus is set up in FIG. 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, each longitudinally extending upper folding die U is pivotally mounted. The pivot Structure is adjustable to provide precise alignment of the upper and lower dies. To this end, a sleeve 136 is clamped in the bearing block 79, previously described, and a pivot pin 137 for the upper dies extends through the sleeve 136 and is eccentric to its periphery, whereby rotation of the sleeve 136 adjusts the position of the upper die relative to the lower dies. Pivoted on the ends of pivot pin 137 (PIG. 2) are rocker arms 138 that mount the upper die proper. Referring to FIG. 6, each rocker arm is operated by a cam follower roller 139 bearing against a cam 141 on camshaft K. FIG. 6 shows the assembly for table T, but the saine construction is employed on the other table T1, which mounts camshaft K1. A plate 142 extends laterally outwardly from the rocker arm 138 and mounts a spring 143, Vthe other end of which connects to a spring post 144 extending from the table T. This spring holds the cam follower roller 139 against the cam 141. The position of the axis of the cam follower roller 139 can also be adjusted by means of an eccentric bushing, which adjustment provides a precisely controlled stroke range of the rocker arm and accommodates adjustment for thickness of the material of the blank.

Overload release means are provided to prevent the upper die U from exerting excess pressure against the lower die D. To provide such overload release, studs 146 are threaded into the bearing block 79, and extend 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINER PARTS FROM CORNER NOTCHED AND TABBED BLANKS COMPRISING A FRAME, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED TABLES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FRAME, A BLANK REGISTRATION STATION AT THE FORWARD END OF THE APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR GUIDING THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING EDGES OF THE BLANKS, A FIRST FOLDING STATION COMPRISING LATERALLY SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING LOWER DIES SUPPORTED ON SAID TABLES FOR RECEIVING BLANKS FROM SAID REGISTRATION STATION, A SECOND FOLDING STATION COMPRISING LONGITUDINAL SPACED LATERALLY EXTENDING LOWER DIES FOR RECEIVING BLANKS FROM SAID FIRST FOLDING STATION, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CAMSHAFTS MOUNTED ON SAID TABLES, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CAMSHAFTS, LONGITUDINALLY AND LATERALLY EXTENDING UPPER DIES MOUNTED ON SAID TABLES AT SAID FIRST AND SECOND FOLDING STATIONS FOR MOTION TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE CORRESPONDING LOWER DIES DRIVE MEANS BETWEEN SAID CAMSHAFTS AND BOTH SETS OF UPPER DIES FOR LOWERING AND RAISING THE UPPER DIES, AND BLANK FEED MEANS FOR PROGRESSSIVELY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ADVANCING BLANKS FROM STATION TO STATION. 